On Aug. 16 and over the weekend, following the White House’s announcement of Obama’s visit, UB students, faculty, staff and alumni took to social media to spread the word and welcome the president. On campus this Saturday, students settling in for the start of the academic year were elated to learn that the semester would begin with such a monumental event.

“The excitement’s definitely spread. I’ve had friends who aren’t back at school text me from all over asking me to get them tickets,” said Jori Breslawski, an international studies student from Brockport, N.Y.

“It’s really exciting, and I bet it’s going to be really inspiring,” said mathematics student Min Jung Shin, who is from Long Island. “It’s a good way to start the year off. I can’t wait for him to visit and hear what he has to say.”

The president’s address to the nation from UB is expected to focus on issues important to America’s middle class, including the rising cost of higher education.

UB is a fitting venue for a discussion on such matters as a major public research university that has been recognized for offering a quality education at an affordable price. The nonprofit, nonpartisan New America Foundation highlighted UB’s innovative approaches to controlling costs and expanding student access in a report on “next-generation universities” that the public policy institute released earlier this year. In addition, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked UB 33rd in the magazine’s 2013 list of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.